Het zotte ei der democratie 1923

Erich Wichmann made this small drawing, titled 'The Rotten Egg of Democracy,' in 1923. It's graphite on paper, and the marks are tentative, searching—like the artist is feeling around for the form. The egg, this political statement, is not a hard, defined shape, but something soft and yielding. Look at how the graphite is smudged and rubbed into the paper, creating subtle tonal variations. The lack of hard edges gives the image a ghostly quality. It’s as if the idea of democracy itself is decomposing, fragile, and perhaps even a little bit repulsive. I'm reminded of George Grosz, with that same cynical edge, but Wichmann's drawing is quieter, more introspective. Both were wrestling with the turbulent politics of their time, but here, the critique is internalized, etched onto the face of a decaying egg. Art isn't about answers; it's about asking the hard questions, even if they leave a bad taste in your mouth.